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Where to eat

SMYRNA — You really can’t get more authentic Italian food than from an Italian executive chef.

Massimo Esposito, who owned a place called Massimo’s in Smyrna years ago, has teamed up with co-owner Angelo Ferrante to create a special eatery in the heart of Smyrna’s historic downtown.

La Tavola means “the table” in Italian, and it is is a gathering place for friends and family, just as Esposito and Ferrante hope the restaurant, La Tavola Ristorante Italiano, will become a hot spot for local families.

“We work well together,” Esposito said, adding the two men worked together in Nashville at a popular Italian restaurant. “He knows the front of the house; I know the back of the house. We share our ideas.”

Both natives of Italy — Esposito is from Naples and Ferrante hails from Rome — the men wanted to break true Italian flavors to middle Tennessee, paired with real customer service, all at affordable prices.

“Our restaurant will have four-star food and four-star service for an affordable price,” Ferrante said. “You become a chef after years of training. It’s a degree, a rank you earn.”

They welcome anyone to come “in a tuxedo or football jersey, just so long as you wear a shirt,” according to Ferrante, who lightheartedly described himself as someone with “a sophisticated palate and a wine snob.”

What the pair hope to change is the concept of classic Italian food, which is really an Americanized version of their native favorites. In reality, there are popular dishes all over the country and they are very different in northern Italy and southern Italy. La Tavola will offer a sampling of all regions.

On the menu: Esposito earned his status as a chef for sure, but he also picked up some tips and tricks from watching his mother and grandmother cook as he grew up in Italy.

Another popular item is the Pollo Ripieno, which drapes tender chicken in a savory sauce and includes fresh rosemary garnish. This is paired with slices of potato and seasoned vegetables.

You’ll find classic Italian favorites including chicken Marsala, meat lasagna, and eggplant Parmesan, as well as pizza and calzones. But even the traditional plates will seem new as you try them made by a true Italian chef.

What’s the cost: Appetizers are about $6 at lunch and $10 or under at dinner. Pizzas start at $6.75 and go up according to size and toppings. Calzones cost $7.75 with basic ingredients. Other ingredients are 50-cents each.

Lunch entrees are between $8 and $10, while dinner meals are $15 or under.

Desserts, including tiramisu, cannoli, and cheesecake, are $6 a serving, and specialty coffees such as espresso and cappuccino are $4 and under.

What to know: Esposito said they will expand the menu some, and soon there will be wine to be paired with the meals.

A lunch all-you-can-eat buffet is also available during the week for $9.99.